Stalk-chopper.



' W. J. BROWN.

STALK CHOPPER. APPLICATION FILED-OCT. 10, 1910. 983,477. Patented e 7,1911.

2 sums-snarl.

W. A. J. BROWN. STALK CHOPPER. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10, 1910,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb.7,1911.

if i i 1 STAES WILLIAM A. J. BROWN, OF LANCASTER, KANSAS.

STALK- CHOPPER.

QSSALW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. *7, 1911.

Application filed October 10, 1910. Serial No. 586,315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. J. Brown, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lancaster, in the county of Atchison and State of Kansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Choppers; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to improvements in stalk chopping devices and itconsists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of a stalkchopping machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail verticallongitudinal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 22 in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section through one side of themachine, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 inFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the frames which carry thechopping wheels and stalk straightening device; and Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of a series of stalk straightening devices.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, 1 denotes a suitable mainframe consisting of longitudinal side bars 2 and a central bar 3connected by front and rear transverse bars or members 1 and 5. Theframe may be suitably braced and to its front end may be connected asuitable draft device 6. The front portion of the frame is supported bytwo steering wheels 7 having stub axles carried by vertical pivots 9which latter are connected by suitable connections 10 whereby the wheelswill turn in unison and said connections may have any suitable means foractuating them, the actuating means being indicated at 11. Since thesedevices form no part of the present invention, it is thought that a moredetailed explanation of them is unnecessary.

The present invention resides in the stalk chopping devices and consistsin substan tially rectangular frames 12 arranged beneath the two sidesof the main frame and each consisting of angular side bars 13 havingtheir intermediate portions connected by a cross rod 1 1 and their rearends connected by an inverted U-shaped yoke 15. The forward ends of thebars 13 extend upwardly,

as shown at 16, and are apertured to receive transverse pivot shafts 17mounted in brackets 18 on the front cross bar. The brackets 18 havereduced forward ends passed through the bar 1 and are threaded toreceive a retaining nut 19 whereby said brackets are removably mounted.

Vithin each of the frames 12 is mounted a stalk chopping wheel 20 havinga solid body of star shape in cross section and carrying a choppingblade 21 on each of its radiating arms. The wheel 20 is mounted on atrans-- verse shaft 22 journaled in bearings 23 on the horizontal rearportions of the bars 13.

For the purpose of adjusting the frames 12, their rear yoke members 15are connected to swinging members or brackets 21 and said yoke membersare raised or lowered by means of hand levers 25. One of the brackets 21 is provided for each of the frames 12 and each one consists of atubular bar 26 having at its ends pairs of upper and lower arms 27 and28. The upper arms 27 swing from transverse pivot rods 29 mounted insuitable bearing brackets 30 on the central and side bars of the mainframe. The dep ending arms 28 are apertured to receive pivots 31 formedon the reduced ends of transverse channel bars 32 the central portionsof which latter are provided with spaced upper and lower flanges to formchannels for the reception of the fiat portions 33 of the U- shaped yokemembers 15. Said portions 33 of the yoke members or bars 15 arelongitudinally slotted to receive screws or similar fastenings 34whereby the yoke members 15 may be adjusted longitudinally of thechannel bars 32 for the purpose of varying the space between the twochopping wheels. The depending ends 35 of the yoke members or bars 15are reduced and have their lower extremities slidably arranged inopenings in the rear ends of the side bars 13, cotter pins 36 beingprovided to prevent the bars 13 from dropping off of the reduced ends35. Coiled springs 37 are arranged on the re dueed ends 35 and bearagainst the side bars 13 to yieldably press the frames 12 in a downwarddirection.

Provided on the intermediate portions of the channel bars 32 are lugs 38which are connected by links 39 to lugs 4-0 on the lower ends of thehand levers 25. The levers 25 are rotatably mounted on sleeves 4:1 fixedto a cross bar 5 and are held in adjust-ed position by spring'pressedhand retracted pawls 42 which engage sockets 43 formed in the sleeve 41as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of straightening fallen or bent stalks before they arechopped by the wheels 20, I provide a series of resilient straighteningteeth 44. These teeth are pivotally mounted 011 the cross rods 14 andare held in position and pressed downwardly by a transverse tensionmember 45, the latter being constructed of resilient material and havingforwardly projecting arms 46 coiled to form eyes which surround the rod14 whereby said member is pivotally mounted. At the center of the member45 is formed a resilient angulararm 47 having an aperture to receive thelower end of a rod 48, the upper end of which latter is pivotallyconnected to a lug 49 011 the bar 26. Nuts 50 are provided on the lowerends of the rod 48 above and below the arm 47 to provide an adjustableconnection for varying the tension of the member 45 of the teeth 44.

If desired, the side bars 13 may be connected by chains 51 and springs52 to the front portion of the frame, (see Fig. 2).

The rear portion of the main frame may be supported in any suitablemanner but an ordinary caster wheel is preferably employed, the samebeing indicated at 53 in Fig. 1. A suitable transverse seat 54 is alsomounted on the rear portion of the main frame.

I'claim:-

1. The combination of a wheeled frame, rectangular chopping wheel framesarranged beneath the side portions of the main frame and having theirforward ends pivotally mounted, stalk chopping wheels arranged in thelast mentioned frames, spring stalk straightening teeth arranged inadvance of said wheels, swinging brackets mounted in the rear portionsof the main frame and having spaced depending end portions transversechannel bars having pivots at their ends mounted in said depending endportions of the swinging brackets, the intermediate portions of saidchannel bars having spaced flanges, inverted U- shaped yoke membershaving flat slotted central portions adjustably arranged in the channelbars between their flanges, the ends of said. U-shaped yoke membershaving reduced depending ends slidably engaged with the rear portions ofthe chopping wheel carrying frames, springs on the reduced dependingends of said yoke members and bearing against said chopping wheelcarrying frames, fastenings passed through the slots in the hingedportions of the yoke members and into said channel bars, and means forraising and lowering said channel bars.

2. The combination of a wheeled main frame, a chopping wheel carryingframe having its forward end pivotally mounted I 1n the mam frame, achopping wheel mounted on said chopping wheel a swinging bracket mountedtions of the main frame, a transverse bar carried by the lower end ofsaid swinging bracket, a yoke member connected to said bar and havingdepending ends slidably engaged with said chopping wheel carrying frame,springs on said yoke member and bearing against said chopping wheelcarrying frame, and means for raislng and lowering said transverse bar.

3. The combination of a main frame, a chopping wheel carrying framepivotally mounted thereon and including a cross rod, means for raisingand lowering the main portion of said chopping wheel carrying frame, aseries of stalk straightening teeth pivotally mounted on said r0 atransverse tension member pivotally connected to said rod and engagedwith said teeth, said tension member having an angular resilient arm anda rod adjustably connected to the latter and connected to said means forraising and lowering the chopping wheel carrying frame.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

carrying frame, on the rear por- WILLIAM A. J, BROWN.

lVitnesses JOHN M. Srmrrnnoen, W. R. DANUELLAN.

